Charlie Chan & The Birth of American Detective Fiction
University Undergraduate Lecture Series
Charlie Chan created by author Earl Derr Biggers
This lesson explores the fascinating story of Charlie Chan, one of America’s first great fictional detectives.
Created by Earl Derr Biggers in the 1920s, Charlie Chan was introduced at a time of intense anti-Asian sentiment in the United States. Drawing on the multicultural setting of Honolulu, Hawaii, Biggers created a detective who broke stereotypes, brought humor and humanity to the genre, and helped fuel the renaissance of American detective fiction after Edgar Allan Poe’s Dupin.
We look at:
The 1924 Immigration Act and its cultural impact
Biggers’ inspiration from Hawaii and real police officers
How Chan compared to Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot
The novels, films, comics, and radio shows that made Chan a household name
The legacy (and controversy) of Charlie Chan in American popular culture
Perfect for students of literature, mystery fans, and anyone interested in American cultural history.
Charlie Chan
American detective fiction
history of detective stories
Earl Derr Biggers
House Without a Key
Charlie Chan movies
Charlie Chan books
detective fiction history
mystery novels 1920s
American popular culture
Chinese detective character
Agatha Christie and Charlie Chan
Edgar Allan Poe detective stories
literary history America
classic mystery novels
Saturday Evening Post mysteries
American literature lesson
cultural history USA
1920s Hawaii history
Immigration Act 1924